U.S. patent application number 15/202618 was filed with the patent office on 2017-02-02 for connector.
The applicant listed for this patent is Sumitomo Wiring Systems, Ltd.. Invention is credited to Norihito Hashimoto, Shinya Morimoto, Takeshi Tsuji.
Application Number | 20170033494 15/202618 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 57883657 |
Filed Date | 2017-02-02 |
United States Patent
Application |
20170033494 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Hashimoto; Norihito ; et
al. |
February 2, 2017 |
CONNECTOR
Abstract
It is aimed to provide a connector capable of enhancing the
reliability of rattling prevention. A front member (90) is mounted
on a front surface side of a housing main body (11). The front
member (90) includes a straight wall (41) configured to face an
erroneous connection preventing surface (214) of a mating housing
(200) when a housing (10) is in a proper connection posture with
respect to the mating housing (200). A rattling preventing portion
(45) projects on the straight wall (41) and is configured to
suppress rattling between the two housings (10, 200) by contacting
an inner surface of a receptacle (210) and a curved wall (99)
arranged more outward than the rattling preventing portion (45)
when viewed from front and configured to regulate forward
detachment of a seal (70) with the front member (90) mounted on the
housing main body (11).
Inventors: |
Hashimoto; Norihito;
(Yokkaichi, JP) ; Morimoto; Shinya; (Yokkaichi,
JP) ; Tsuji; Takeshi; (Yokkaichi, JP) |
|
Applicant: |
Name |
City |
State |
Country |
Type |
Sumitomo Wiring Systems, Ltd. |
Yokkaichi |
|
JP |
|
|
Family ID: |
57883657 |
Appl. No.: |
15/202618 |
Filed: |
July 6, 2016 |
Current U.S.
Class: |
1/1 |
Current CPC
Class: |
H01R 13/64 20130101;
H01R 13/5219 20130101; H01R 13/641 20130101 |
International
Class: |
H01R 13/52 20060101
H01R013/52; H01R 13/64 20060101 H01R013/64 |
Foreign Application Data
Date |
Code |
Application Number |
Jul 30, 2015 |
JP |
2015-150685 |
Claims
1. A connector, comprising: a housing main body (11) configured
such that a receptacle (210) of a mating housing (200) is to be fit
externally thereto from a front; a seal (70) to be fitted on an
outer peripheral surface of the housing main body (11) and
resiliently sandwiched between the housing main body (11) and the
receptacle when the two housings (10, 200) are connected; and a
front member (90) to be mounted on a front surface side of the
housing main body (11) and arranged inside the mating housing (200)
when the two housings are connected; wherein the front member (90)
includes a straight wall (41) configured to face an erroneous
connection preventing surface (214) of the mating housing (200)
when the housing (10) is in a proper connection posture with
respect to the mating housing (200), a rattling preventing portion
(45) provided to project on the straight wall (41) and configured
to suppress rattling between the two housings (10, 200) by coming
into contact with an inner surface of the receptacle and a curved
wall (99) arranged more outwardly than the rattling preventing
portion (45) when viewed from front and configured to regulate
forward detachment of the seal (70) with the front member (90)
mounted on the housing main body (10).
2. The connector of claim 1, wherein the rattling preventing
portion (45) is arranged at a position overlapping with an
outermost end portion of the curved wall (9) in a height direction
when viewed from front.
Description
BACKGROUND
[0001] 1. Field of the Invention
[0002] The present invention relates to a connector.
[0003] 2. Description of the Related Art
[0004] Japanese Unexamined Patent Publication No. 2014-59960
discloses a connector with a female housing and a male housing that
are connectable to each other. The female housing has a terminal
accommodating portion and a front retainer is mounted on a front
surface side of the terminal accommodating portion of the female
housing. Circumferentially spaced rattling preventing ribs are
provided on the outer peripheral surface of the front retainer and
extend in a front-back direction. Each rattling preventing rib
contacts the inner peripheral surface of a small receptacle of the
male housing to suppress rattling of the terminal accommodating
portion in the small receptacle when the two housings are
connected.
[0005] The rattling preventing ribs are exposed on the outer
peripheral surface of the front retainer prior to assembling the
components of the connector. Thus, foreign matter easily can
contact the rattling preventing ribs from outside. The reliability
of rattling prevention by the rattling preventing ribs may be
impaired if the rattling preventing ribs are squeezed due to
interference with a foreign matter.
[0006] The invention was completed based on the above situation and
aims to provide a connector capable of enhancing the reliability of
rattling prevention.
SUMMARY
[0007] The invention is directed to a connector with a housing main
body configured so that a receptacle of a mating housing is fit
externally on the housing main body from the front. A seal is fit
on an outer peripheral surface of the housing main body and is
sandwiched resiliently between the housing main body and the
receptacle when the two housings are connected. A front member is
mounted on a front surface side of the housing main body and is
arranged inside the mating housing when the two housings are
connected. The front member includes a straight wall configured to
face an erroneous connection preventing surface of the mating
housing when the housing is in a proper connection posture with
respect to the mating housing. A rattling preventing portion
projects on the straight wall and is configured to suppress
rattling between the two housings by contacting an inner surface of
the receptacle. A curved wall is arranged more outward than the
rattling preventing portion when viewed from the front and is
configured to regulate forward detachment of the seal with the
front member mounted on the housing main body.
[0008] Although the rattling preventing portion projects on the
straight wall, the curved wall is arranged more outward than the
rattling preventing portion when viewed from the front. Thus,
foreign matter cannot contact the rattling preventing portion from
the outside. As a result, a projecting shape of the rattling
preventing portion is maintained and the reliability of rattling
prevention by the rattling preventing portion can be enhanced.
[0009] The curved wall protects the rattling preventing portion and
also regulates detachment of the seal, thereby simplifying the
entire configuration of the front member.
[0010] The rattling preventing portion is arranged at a position
overlapping an outermost end of the curved wall in a height
direction when viewed from the front. According to this
configuration, foreign matter is less likely to interfere with the
rattling preventing portion from outside since the rattling
preventing portion is at a distance from the outermost end of the
curved wall.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0011] FIG. 1 is a perspective view when a connector of an
embodiment of the present invention is viewed obliquely from an
upper rear side.
[0012] FIG. 2 is a front view of the connector in which a detector
is kept at a detection position.
[0013] FIG. 3 is a plan view of the connector in which the detector
is kept at a standby position.
[0014] FIG. 4 is a plan view of the connector in which the detector
is kept at the detection position.
[0015] FIG. 5 is a plan view with a bridge of FIG. 4 shown in
section.
[0016] FIG. 6 is a section of the connector showing the detector
kept at the detection position.
[0017] FIG. 7 is a section showing a state where protruding pieces
are sandwiched resiliently between a receptacle and a coupling
portion.
[0018] FIG. 8 is a perspective view when a housing is viewed
obliquely from an upper front side.
[0019] FIG. 9 is a front view of the housing.
[0020] FIG. 10 is a front view of a front member.
[0021] FIG. 11 is a plan view of the front member.
[0022] FIG. 12 is a bottom view of the front member.
[0023] FIG. 13 is a side view of the front member.
[0024] FIG. 14 is a front view of a seal.
[0025] FIG. 15 is a plan view of the seal.
[0026] FIG. 16 is a front view of the detector.
[0027] FIG. 17 is a plan view of the detector.
[0028] FIG. 18 is a side view of the detector.
[0029] FIG. 19 is a front view of a mating housing.
[0030] FIG. 20 is a section of the mating housing.
[0031] FIG. 21 is a schematic enlarged section of a protruding
piece in another embodiment.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION
[0032] An embodiment of the invention is described below with
reference to the drawings. A connector of this embodiment includes
a housing 10 connectable to a mating housing 200. A detector 50 is
assembled with the housing 10 and is movable between a standby
position and a detection position. A seal 70 is mounted into the
housing 10 and provides sealing between the housing 10 and the
mating housing 200. A front member 90 is mounted on a front end
part of the housing 10.
[0033] The mating housing 200 is made of synthetic resin and
includes a tubular receptacle 210 that is flat in a width
direction, as shown in FIG. 19. A separation wall 211 divides the
interior of the receptacle 210 into front and rear parts, as shown
in FIG. 20, and male terminal fittings 100 are mounted side by side
in a row in the width direction on the separation wall 211. Each
male terminal fitting 100 is made of electrically conductive metal
and extends straight in the front-back direction.
[0034] As shown in FIG. 20, a fitting 212 is located in the
receptacle 210 before the separation wall 211 and fits into a
later-described connection space 14 of the housing 10. A step 213
is provided at an intermediate position in the front-back direction
on one side surface of the inner periphery of the fitting 212, as
shown in FIGS. 19 and 20. The step 213 increases the thickness of
rear areas of the wall of the fitting 212. The inner surface of the
rear area of the fitting 212 defines an erroneous connection
preventing surface 214 extending along a vertical direction and the
front-back direction. A protrusion 215 projects in a vertical
central part of a rear area of the erroneous connection preventing
surface 214 of the fitting 212 and is rectangular in a side view
(not shown) while having a flat trapezoidal shape as viewed from
the front. Further, a lock 216 projects on the upper surface of a
front part of the fitting 212, as shown in FIGS. 6 and 19.
[0035] The housing 10 is made unitarily of synthetic resin and, as
shown in FIGS. 7 to 9, includes a housing main body 11 in the form
of a flat block extending in the lateral direction of FIG. 9. A
fitting tube 12 surrounds the outer periphery of the housing main
body 11 and a radially extending coupling 13 couples the fitting
tube 12 and the housing main body 11. A space between the housing
main body 11 and the fitting tube 12 and before the coupling 13 is
open as the connection space 14. Cavities 15 extend in the
front-back direction through the housing main body 11 and are
provided side by side in a row in the width direction. A
deflectable locking lance 16 projects at the lower surface of an
inner wall of each cavity 15. As shown in FIG. 7, a female terminal
fitting 20 is inserted into the cavity 15 from behind.
[0036] The female terminal fitting 20 is made of electrically
conductive metal and is long and narrow in the front-back
direction. The female terminal fitting 20 has a tubular connecting
portion 21 in a front part and an open barrel 22 in a rear part, as
shown in FIG. 7. A male terminal fitting 100 mounted in the mating
housing 200 is inserted into the connecting portion 21 from the
front and connects to the female terminal fitting 20 when the two
housings 10, 200 are connected properly. The barrel 22 is crimped
and connected to an end part of a wire 25 and a rubber plug 26 is
fit externally on an outer peripheral surface of the wire 25. The
locking lance 16 locks the connecting portion 21 when the female
terminal fitting 20 is inserted properly into the cavity 15,
thereby retaining the female terminal fitting 20 in the cavity 15
with the rubber plug 26 inserted in a liquid-tight manner into a
rear end part of the cavity 15.
[0037] A deflectable lock arm 17 is provided above the housing main
body 11, as shown in FIGS. 6 and 9. The lock arm 17 has legs 18
standing up from the upper surface of the housing main body 11 and
an arm main body 19 extends forward and back from the upper ends of
the legs 18. The arm main body 19 is a flat plate extending along
the front-back direction and is inclinable and resiliently
displaceable in the vertical direction with the upper ends of the
legs 18 as supports. As shown in FIG. 6, a lock hole 27 vertically
penetrates a front part of the arm main body 19. When the two
housings 10, 200 are connected properly, the lock 216 is fit
resiliently into the lock hole 27 of the arm main body 19 so that
the two housings 10, 200 are held together. Further, as shown in
FIG. 4, retention receiving portions 28 project on opposite
widthwise sides of the arm main body 19 and can lock to
later-described retaining portions 63 of the detector 50.
[0038] As shown in FIG. 8, an open space 29 is open on an upper
part of the fitting tube 12 and exposes the lock arm 17 upwardly
before the detector 50 is assembled. Further, two protection walls
31 stand at opposite widthwise sides of the open space 29 on the
top of the fitting tube 12, and a bridging wall 32 bridges between
upper edges of front end parts of the protection walls 31. Front
parts of the protection walls 31 and the bridging wall 32 form a
bridge 33 that is U-shaped in a front view and defines the open
space 29. A substantially rectangular cut portion 34 is provided on
the rear end edge of the bridge 33 and a tip part of a detection
arm 52 to be described later can be confirmed visually through the
cut portion 24 when the detector 50 reaches the detection
position.
[0039] As shown in FIG. 6, a step 35 is provided before the
coupling 13 on the outer peripheral surface of the housing main
body 11. The step 35 is configured so that the front area is
narrower than the rear area. The seal 70 is fit in the front area
of the outer peripheral surface of the housing main body 11.
[0040] The seal 70 is made of rubber, such as silicon rubber and,
as shown in FIGS. 14 and 15, is formed integrally to include a seal
main body 71, strips 72 and protrusions 73. The seal main body 71
is a substantially rectangular ring that is long in the width
direction when viewed from the front and has four curved corners.
The strips 72 are long and narrow and extend straight back from the
corners on the rear of the seal main body 71. The protrusions 73
protrude out from the rear ends of the strips 72. As shown in FIG.
14, the outer peripheral edge of the protrusion 73 is curved into a
substantially arcuate shape to extend along the corner part of the
seal main body 71 in a front view.
[0041] As shown in FIGS. 6 and 15, outer peripheral lips 74 are
provided circumferentially on the outer peripheral surface of the
seal main body 71 and an inner peripheral lip 75 is provided
circumferentially on the inner peripheral surface thereof. When the
seal 70 is fit onto the housing main body 11, the inner lip 75 is
held resiliently in close contact with the outer peripheral surface
of the housing main body 11. Further, when the two housings 10, 200
are connected properly, the outer peripheral lips 74 are held
resiliently in close contact with the inner peripheral surface of
the receptacle 210 inserted into the connection space 14. In this
way, liquid-tight sealing is provided between the two housings 10,
200 via the seal main body 71.
[0042] As shown in FIG. 14, pressure receiving portions project on
the front surface of the protrusion 73 and are divided in the width
direction via a groove 77. Further, as shown in FIG. 15, two
protrusions 78 project on the rear surface of the protrusion 73 at
positions back-to-back with the pressure receiving portions 76 and
are divided in the width direction via a groove 79. As shown in
FIG. 15, the front end surfaces of the pressure receiving portions
76 and the rear end surfaces of the protrusions 78 are arranged
along the width direction. As shown in FIG. 7, when the two
housings 10, 200 are connected properly, the protrusions 73 are
sandwiched in the front-back direction between the receptacle 210
and the coupling 13, opening ends of four corners of the receptacle
210 are pressed into contact with the front end surfaces of the
respective pressure receiving portions 76 and curved surfaces 37 of
later-described recesses 36 of the coupling 13 are held in close
contact with the rear end surfaces of the respective protrusions
78. Thus, the rattling of the two housings 10, 200 in the
front-back direction is suppressed. In this case, the pressure
receiving portions 76 and the protrusions 78 are compressively
deformable toward the grooves 77, 79.
[0043] The front surface of the coupling 13 forms the back surface
of the connection space 14 and extends in the circumferential
direction except at parts corresponding to the legs 18 of the lock
arm 17 with respect to the circumferential direction, as shown in
FIG. 9. The recesses 36 are provided in back corner parts
corresponding to the four corners of the receptacle 210 on the
front surface of the coupling 13. The recess 36 is curved in the
circumferential direction and, as shown in FIG. 7, the inner
surface thereof is formed as the curved surface 37 concavely curved
in a depth direction from the opening end to the back end. The
opening end of the curved surface 37 of the recess 36 is chamfered
arcuately and widened toward the front. The corresponding
protrusion 78 is inserted in a positioned state into the recess 36.
At this time, the protrusion 78 is guided from the opening end
toward the back end of the recess 36 along the curved surface 37 of
the recess 36.
[0044] The front member 90 is mounted on the front of the housing
main body 11. The front member 90 is made of synthetic resin in the
shape of a cap and, as shown in FIGS. 6 and 7, is arranged inside
the fitting 212 of the receptacle 210 when the two housings 10, 200
are connected properly. Specifically, as shown in FIGS. 10 to 13,
the front member 90 is formed integrally of a wide plate-shaped
front wall 91 and a tubular peripheral wall 92 extending back from
the outer peripheral edge of the front wall 91.
[0045] The front wall 91 has a plurality of through holes 93
arranged side by side in a row in the width direction at positions
corresponding to the respective cavities 15, as shown in FIG. 10.
As shown in FIG. 7, the rear surface of the front wall 91 is
provided with retaining pieces 94 projecting backwardly from lower
edge parts of the through holes 93.
[0046] As shown in FIG. 10, the peripheral wall 92 is formed
integrally to include an upper wall 96, a side wall 97, a lower
wall 98, a curved wall 99 and a straight wall 41. The upper and
lower walls 96, 98 have parts arranged substantially parallel to
each other along the width direction. Upper and lower ends of the
straight wall 41 and the curved wall 99 are coupled integrally at
one slightly curved widthwise end of the upper and lower walls 96,
98, while upper and lower ends of the side wall 97 are coupled
integrally to the other widthwise end of the upper and lower walls
96, 98.
[0047] The side wall 97 is formed over the entire length of the
peripheral wall 92 in the front-back direction and is curved
arcuately laterally out (toward the right side of FIG. 10) in a
front view. The curved wall 99 is arranged substantially
symmetrically with the side wall 97 in the width direction on a
rear end part of the peripheral wall 92 and is curved arcuately
laterally out (toward the left side of FIG. 10) in a front view. As
shown in FIG. 10, the curved wall 99 is bridged in an arched manner
between the one widthwise ends of the upper and lower walls 96, 98.
An outermost end portion 42 protruding most outward is provided
substantially along the vertical direction in a vertical central
part of the curved wall 99.
[0048] A rear end of the upper wall 96, a rear end of the side wall
97, a rear end of the lower wall 98 and the curved wall 99 form a
ring shape continuously over the entire circumference, and defines
a pressing portion 43 for regulating forward detachment of the seal
70 by facing the seal 70 when the front member 90 is mounted
properly on the housing 10 as shown in FIGS. 6 and 7.
[0049] As shown in FIGS. 10 to 13, the straight wall 41 is arranged
before the curved wall 99 on one widthwise end of the peripheral
wall 92. The outer surface of the straight wall 41 extends
vertically and in the front-back direction and faces the erroneous
connection preventing surface 214 of the mating housing 200 when
the two housings 10, 20 are connected properly.
[0050] As shown in FIGS. 10 and 13, a shallow recess 44 is provided
on the outer surface of the straight wall 41 and is provided in a
predetermined range extending back from the front end of the front
member 90. The recess 44 defines a rectangle that is long in the
front-back direction when viewed from the side, as shown in FIG.
13. A rattling preventing rib 45 projects on the back surface of
the recess 44 and extends in the front-back direction at a vertical
central part of the straight wall 41 (also a vertical central part
of the front member 90). The protruding portion 215 can fit into
the recess 44. When the front member 90 is viewed from the front,
the curved wall 99 protrudes laterally out beyond the rattling
preventing rib 45 (left in FIG. 10). Further, the rattling
preventing rib 45 is at a position overlapping with the outermost
end 42 of the curved wall 99 in the vertical direction. Thus,
foreign matter from a lateral side comes into contact with the
outermost end 42 of the curved wall 99 so that no foreign matter
contacts the rattling preventing rib 45.
[0051] As shown in FIG. 10, ribs 46 project on the outer peripheral
surface of the peripheral wall 92 while being spaced apart in the
circumferential direction. As shown in FIGS. 11 and 12, each rib 46
extends in the front-back direction, with the front end thereof
located on the front of the peripheral wall 92 and the rear end is
slightly before a center of the peripheral wall 92 in the
front-back direction. Each rib 46 is formed to have substantially
the same shape as the rattling preventing portion 45. As shown in
FIG. 10, the ribs 46 are arranged on opposite widthwise ends of the
outer surface of the upper wall 96, opposite widthwise ends of the
outer surface of the lower wall 98 and a vertical central part of
the outer surface of the side wall 97. The rib 46 on the vertical
central part of the outer surface of the side wall 97 is at
substantially the same height as the rattling preventing portion
45. Further, as shown in FIGS. 10 and 11, the one widthwise end
part of the upper wall 96 is provided with a cut groove 47
extending in the front-back direction and open on the front wall
91.
[0052] The detector 50 is made of synthetic resin and is arranged
above the housing main body 11 and between the protection walls 31
(see FIG. 1). The detector 50 is movable while sliding along the
arm main body 19 of the lock arm 17. In this case, the detector 50
is movable by being pushed forward from the standby position to the
detection position.
[0053] As shown in FIGS. 16 and 17, the detector 50 has a flat
rectangular shape in a front view and includes a back plate 51
extending along the vertical direction, the long detection arm 52
extending forward from a widthwise central part of the back plate
51, two long projecting pieces 53 extending forward from opposite
widthwise ends of the back plate 51 and a ceiling plate 54 bridged
between the upper ends of both projecting pieces 53.
[0054] As shown in FIGS. 1 and 17, a window 55 vertically s through
a rear end part of the ceiling plate 54. When the detector 50 is at
the standby position, a rear end part of the detection arm 52 can
be confirmed visually through the window 55 (see FIG. 3). When the
detector 50 is at the detection position, a rear end part of the
arm main body 19 of the lock arm 17 can be confirmed visually
through the window 55 (see FIG. 4). Thus, whether the detector 50
is at the standby position or the detection position can be known
through the window 55.
[0055] Further, a circling rib 56 circles around an opening edge of
the window 55 on the outer surface of the rear end part of the
ceiling plate 54, as shown in FIGS. 1 and 17. The front end of the
ceiling plate 54 is arranged along the width direction, as shown in
FIG. 4, and defines a contact portion 57 configured to contact the
rear end of the bridge 33 when the detector 50 reaches the
detection position.
[0056] Each projecting piece 53 is in the form of a strip extending
along the vertical direction and the front-back direction. The rear
ends of are coupled integrally to the back plate 51 and the upper
ends thereof are coupled integrally to the ceiling plate 54 so that
the projecting pieces 53 are not deflectable or deformable. As
shown in FIG. 17, the front ends of the projecting pieces 53 are
arranged at the foremost position in the entire detector 50.
[0057] Front ends of the projecting pieces 53 project farther
forward than the contact portion 57 of the ceiling plate 54, as
shown in FIG. 17, and form entering portions 58 arranged to contact
inner sides of opposite end corner parts (substantially L-shaped
coupling parts coupled to the protection walls 31 and the bridging
wall 32) of the bridge 33 when the detector 50 is at the detection
position, as shown in FIGS. 2, 4, 5 and 6. As shown in FIG. 2, the
entering portion 58 includes a side surface area 59 that can face
and contact the inner surface of the protection wall 31 and an
upper surface area 61 that is substantially perpendicular to the
side surface area 59 and can face and contact the inner surface of
the bridging wall 32.
[0058] As shown in FIG. 16, guide grooves 62 are recessed on the
inner surfaces of the projecting pieces 53 and extend in the
front-back direction. Guide ribs 39 protrude on opposite widthwise
ends of the arm main body 19. The guide ribs 39 fit in and slide
along the guide grooves 62 when the detector 50 moves to guide a
sliding movement of the detector 50 (see FIG. 2).
[0059] Further, as shown in FIG. 17, claw-shaped retaining portions
63 project in substantially central parts of the inner surfaces of
the projecting pieces 53 in the front-back direction. Two mold
removal holes 64 are open on opposite widthwise sides of the
ceiling plate 54 due to the passage of an unillustrated mold as the
retaining portions 63 are formed.
[0060] The detection arm 52 is in the form of a strip extending
along the width direction and the front-back direction and is
vertically deflectable and deformable. As shown in FIG. 17, the
front end of the detection arm 52 is located before the contact
portion 57 of the ceiling plate 54 and slightly behind the front
ends of the entering portions 58 of the projecting pieces 53. As
shown in FIG. 18, the detection arm 52 is hidden behind the
projecting piece 53 when the detector 50 is laterally viewed and is
hardly seen.
[0061] A claw-shaped locking projection 65 projects on the lower
surface of a front end part of the detection arm 52. As described
later, the locking projection 65 enters the lock hole 27 of the arm
main body 19 of the lock arm 17 when the detector 50 is at the
standby position for locking the locking projection 65 to the arm
main body 19.
[0062] During assembly, the seal 70 is mounted on the outer
peripheral surface of the housing main body 11. More particularly,
the front surfaces of the protrusions 73 are pushed by an
unillustrated jig or the like and the protrusions 78 of the
protrusions 73 slide on the curved surfaces 37 to be guided
smoothly to the back sides of the recesses 36 and are accommodated
in a positioned state in the recesses 36. In the process of
mounting the seal 70, the protrusions 78 slide on the curved
surfaces 37 to prevent the protrusions 73 and the strips 72 from
being strained, deformed or the like. When the seal 70 is mounted
properly onto the housing main body 11, the seal main body 71 is
held resiliently in close contact with the outer peripheral surface
of the housing main body 11 and the strips 72 are arranged to
extend in the front-back direction along the outer peripheral
surface of the housing main body 11 between the seal main body 71
and the protrusions 73 (see FIG. 7).
[0063] Subsequently, the front member 90 is mounted to a proper
depth onto the front end part of the housing main body 11. Then,
the retaining pieces 94 enter deflection spaces for the locking
lances 16 to regulate the deflection of the locking lances 16. In
this way, the female terminal fittings 20 inserted into the
cavities 15 are locked doubly. Further, the pressing portion 43 of
the front member 90 is arranged to face the front end of the seal
main body 71, thereby regulating forward detachment of the seal
70.
[0064] In a stage before the two housings 10, 200 are connected,
the detector 50 is kept at the standby position (see FIGS. 1 and
3). At the standby position, the ceiling plate 54 is arranged to
cover the arm main body 19 of the lock arm 17 from above, the
projecting pieces 53 are arranged to contact the inner sides of the
protection walls 31 and the guide ribs 39 are fit to and inserted
in the guide grooves 62 of the projecting pieces 53. At the standby
position, the detection arm 52 is inserted into the lock hole 27 of
the lock arm 17 from behind and the locking projection 65 contacts
the front end of the lock hole 27 to regulate a movement of the
detector 50 to the detection position, and the separation of the
detector 50 from the housing 10 is regulated by the retaining
portions 63 of the projecting pieces 53 resiliently locking the
retention receiving portions 28 of the lock arm 17.
[0065] Subsequently, the fitting portion 212 of the receptacle 210
of the mating housing 200 is inserted into the connection space 14
of the housing 10 and a connecting operation of the two housings
10, 200 is started. In the process of connecting the two housings
10, 200, the front end of the arm main body 19 interferes with the
lock 216 to deflect and deform the lock arm 17. At this time, the
detection arm 52 is deflected and deformed together with the lock
arm 17 and a locked state of the locking projection 65 and the arm
main body 19 is maintained. When the two housings 10, 200 are
connected properly, the lock arm 17 resiliently returns and the
lock 216 is fitted into the lock hole 27 do that the two housings
10, 200 are held in a state where the separation thereof is
regulated (see FIG. 6). As the lock portion 216 is fitted into the
lock hole 27, the locking projection 65 is pressed by the lock
portion 216 to release the locked state with the arm main body 19
and a movement of the detector 50 to the detection position is
enabled.
[0066] Subsequently, fingers are hooked to the circling rib 56 of
the ceiling plate 54 and, in that state, the detector 50 is pushed
to the detection position. At this time, the guide ribs 39 slide in
the guide grooves 62 so that the detector 50 moves smoothly.
Further, the locking projection 65 slides on the upper surface of
the front of the arm main body 19 to deflect the detection arm 52.
When the detector 50 reaches the detection position, the detection
arm 52 resiliently returns and the locking projection 65 contacts
the front end of the arm main body 19. This regulates a returning
movement of the detector 50 to the standby position (see FIG. 6).
Further, at the detection position, the contact portion 57 of the
ceiling plate 54 is stopped in contact with the bridging wall 32 of
the bridge 33 to regulate a forward movement of the detector 50
(see FIG. 4).
[0067] Furthermore, from a stage before the detection position is
reached to the detection position, the entering portions 58 of the
projecting pieces 53 enter the bridge 33 and the side surface areas
59 and the upper surface areas 61 of the entering portions 58 are
arranged to be able to contact the inner surfaces of the opposite
end corners of the bridge 33 (see FIGS. 2 and 5). In this way, the
opposite end corners of the bridge 33 are supported from an inner
side and integrally made rigid, and the bridge 33 cannot deflected
and deformed upon receiving an external force.
[0068] Further, when the two housings 10, 200 are properly
connected, the opening end of the receptacle 210 comes into contact
with the pressure receiving portions 76 of protrusions 78 and the
protrusions 78 are pushed tightly to the back sides of the recesses
36 along the curved surfaces 37 while the pressure receiving
portions 76 are squeezed (see FIG. 7). The protrusions 73 are
compressed resiliently and deformed in the front-back direction in
this way to suppress rattling between the two housings 10, 200 in
the front-back direction.
[0069] The rattling preventing portion 45 and the ribs 46 contact
the inner peripheral surface of the receptacle 210 from a final
stage of the connecting process of the two housings 10, 200 to the
proper connection, and projecting ends thereof are squeezed. In
this case, the erroneous connection preventing surface 214 of the
receptacle 210 face the straight wall 41 of the front member 90,
the protruding portion 215 is fit in the recess 44 and, in that
state, the rattling preventing portion 45 contacts the flat
projecting end surface of the protruding portion 215 to be pressed
and squeezed. Thus, the rattling of the housings 10, 200 in
directions intersecting the connecting direction is suppressed by
the rattling preventing portion 45 and the ribs 46.
[0070] On the other hand, if the housing 10 is not in a proper
connection posture with respect to the mating housing 200, the
connecting operation of the two housings 10, 200 is impeded due to
the interference of the erroneous connection preventing surface 214
of the receptacle 210 with the front wall 91 of the front member
90. Thus, it can be known in an initial stage of the connection of
the two housings 10, 200 that the two housings 10, 200 are not in
proper connection postures.
[0071] As described above, the following effects can be exhibited
according to this embodiment.
[0072] The curved surfaces 37 of the housing 10 guide the
protrusions 78 of the protruding pieces 73 of the seal 70 to the
backs of the recesses 36. Thus, the protruding pieces 73 and the
strips 72 are prevented from being strained and deformed, and the
rattling of the two housings 10, 200 can be suppressed reliably.
More particularly, the long narrow strips 72 lack shape stability
and the protrusions 78 are likely to be difficult to insert into
the recesses 36. Thus, the structure for guiding the protrusions 78
along the curved surfaces 37 of the recesses 36 is important.
[0073] The entering portions 58 of the projecting pieces 53 of the
detector 50 are arranged to contact the inner sides of the opposite
ends of the bridge 33 so that external forces will not deform the
bridge 33. As a result, the fitting tube 12 including the bridge 33
can be maintained in a tubular shape and the fitting tube 12 and
the mating housing 200 can be connected smoothly.
[0074] The entering portions 58 of the projecting pieces 53 contact
the inner sides of the opposite ends of the bridge 33 before the
detector 50 reaches the detection position, and the contact portion
57 is stopped in contact with the bridge 33 when the detector 50
reaches the detection position. Thus, the bridge 33 will not be
deformed by an impact when the contact portion 57 is stopped in
contact.
[0075] The curved wall 99 is arranged more outward than the
rattling preventing portion 45 when the front member 90 is viewed
from the front. Thus, foreign matter cannot contact the rattling
preventing portion 45 from outside. As a result, a projecting shape
of the rattling preventing portion 45 is maintained and the
reliability of rattling prevention by the rattling preventing
portion 45 can be enhanced.
[0076] The curved wall 99 has both a function of protecting the
rattling preventing portion 45 and a function of regulating
detachment of the seal 70. Thus, the entire configuration of the
front member 90 becomes complicated.
[0077] The rattling preventing portion 45 overlaps the outermost
end portion 42 of the curved wall 99 in the height direction when
viewed from the front. Thus, foreign matter is less likely to
interfere with the rattling preventing portion 45 from outside.
[0078] Other embodiments are briefly described below.
[0079] As shown in FIG. 21, a protruding piece 73A of a seal 70A is
provided with a pressure receiving portion 76A in the form of a
concave surface on the front and a protrusion 78A in the form of a
convex surface on the rear. When the two housings 10, 200 are
connected, the opening end of the receptacle 210 may be fit in a
positioned state into the pressure receiving portion 76A and the
protrusion 78A may be fit in a positioned state into the recess 36
of the coupling 13.
[0080] The front member may be configured as a front mask not
having a retainer function.
[0081] The curved surfaces may be formed only on the opening end
parts of the recesses.
[0082] Also when the detector is located at the standby position or
regardless of which of the standby position and the detection
position the detector is located at, the projecting pieces may be
arranged to contact the inner sides of the opposite end parts of
the bridge.
LIST OF REFERENCE SIGNS
[0083] 10 . . . housing
[0084] 11 . . . housing main body
[0085] 12 . . . fitting portion
[0086] 13 . . . coupling portion
[0087] 14 . . . connection space
[0088] 15 . . . cavity
[0089] 16 . . . locking lance
[0090] 17 . . . lock arm
[0091] 29 . . . open space portion
[0092] 33 . . . bridge portion
[0093] 36 . . . recess
[0094] 37 . . . curved surface portion
[0095] 41 . . . straight wall
[0096] 42 . . . outermost end portion
[0097] 43 . . . pressing portion
[0098] 45 . . . rattling preventing portion
[0099] 50 . . . detecting member
[0100] 52 . . . detection arm
[0101] 53 . . . projecting piece
[0102] 57 . . . contact portion
[0103] 58 . . . entering portion
[0104] 70, 70A . . . seal
[0105] 71 . . . seal main body
[0106] 72 . . . strip piece
[0107] 73, 73A . . . protruding piece
[0108] 78, 78A . . . protrusion
[0109] 90 . . . front member
[0110] 99 . . . curved wall
[0111] 200 . . . mating housing
[0112] 210 . . . receptacle
[0113] 214 . . . erroneous connection preventing surface
* * * * *